Marriott Poipu or Marriott Lihue In Kauai??

We are marriott vacation club owners and have a choice between the marriott in lihue or poipu. This is our first time to Kauai and we are a couple in our early thirties. We have been to both maui and oahu and stayed at the marriott vacation club there. We love to get up every morning and explore the surrounding area. We will most likely be gone from the hotel 4 days exploring and hiking throughout kauai. We also like to come back to to the hotel after a long day and have a drink a the bar and we also will be going out to dinner every night. I guess what we are looking for is the most convenient hotel that we can use as a base to explore and have some dining options nearby and hotel amenities. Not looking to eat at hotel everynight just dont want to be driving a half hour to get a nice meal and bottle of wine. Thanks

Marriott Poipu or Marriott Lihue In Kauai??

If you read my review of the Lihue location %26amp; see the photos it will be a start. Only visited the other location for half a day so can%26#39;t really offer much info about it but to say the beach %26amp; snorkeling were more of what would suit me, but the restaurant choices didn%26#39;t seem as good, BUT I AM NOT CERTAIN about that. Copy %26amp; paste this link.

http://tinyurl.com/ba4wu

and this link can take you to a very small album of a few photos shot at the Poipu location

http://tinyurl.com/cg8yx

Marriott Poipu or Marriott Lihue In Kauai??

Billy

You can probably take a look at the properties on the web,

however if you like to begin your day with a hike, the Marriot ( Waiohai) at poipu might be what you want.

You can stroll up the road that parallels the beach, and find the Heritage trail, and walk out on the coastal cliff area near the Embassy.

Then continue to walk down to Shipwreck beach in front of the Hyatt, and up the trail at Makawehi Point. And hike along the lithified cliffs and dunes toward Mahaulepu. However, you can only go part way along the lithified cliffs trail since part of it fell into the ocean last winter. There will be very few people and we would start each morning with this hike from the condo at poipu kai.

Not to worry, it is still fantastic, and you will probably still get in about

3 miles or more round trip. It will not be crowded on the trail as most visitors seem to just sun on the beaches.

An easy drive along the cane haul road in your rental car will take you to CJM stables, and if you take the road to the right of the ranch entrance you can park and then hike over to Mahulepu and Gillens.

Beautiful and easy. Keeps you from beating up the car, as the cane haul road gets quite rutty after CJM.

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Or rent bikes and cruise the poipu area, up to spouting horn, and then then bike entire cane haul road to mahulepu. A beautiful nearly deserted beach.

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At the marriot waohai you have snorkeling, and swimming right there at Poipu Beach. Also, we like the Waiohia outdoor tiki bar at the pool. Overlooks the ocean, and each afternoon they grille up tasty burgers right there at the bar.

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We were just over at Dukes, today, at the Kalapaki Beach Marriot.

Taco Tuesday starts at 4 pm to 6 pm. Beers, as well as fish tacos are $ 2.50 apiece. Dukes is a great spot, and we have fun there.

Not any hiking in the area at the Kalapaki Marrriot, but there are more water sports with kayak rentals, catamaran rentals, there in the bay. Snorkeling is a waste of time. When we go to the beach there, we go way down to the far end and lay our our mats on the grass.

Pool area has snack bars, and outdoor bars including Dukes.

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We do go to both, but as residents of kauai, we have never stayed at either, except about 30 years ago, I stayed at the Kalapaki Beach hotel when was the kauai surf....changed hands a couple of times since them, so no help with the rooms.

I have seen the Waiohai rooms on a tour a couple of months ago, and they are really nice. Cannot comment on the rooms at the kalapaki beach marriot.

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Lets see....at the waiohai, you are close to not only poipu, but brenneckes beach ( boogie boarding and body surfing0 as well as snorkeling Poipu, and about 4 minutes from Lawaii ( Beach House)

Beach for sunshine and snorkeling.

We also like to pick up steaks, and BBQ at Poipu Beach Park, generally once a week or so.

Lots of other pluses, but will let others voice their opinions and help out.

Oh, there are some very nice, and fun bars in the poipu area. With

Keokies Paradise ( south seas decor, and we eat at the bar where they have great food for much less than the full on dinners in the restuarant.

Roys, and the Beach House are within just a few minutes drive from the Waiohai, and both are outstanding and upscale.

The Hyatt is also only a few minutes drive, and they have a free hawaiian music and dance presentation out on the terrrace, as well as live jazz later, in the classy koa wood lounge called Stevensons Library.

Other nice spots nearby....

Denny and Erica

Thanks so much for the replies.....I learned a lot!! I was under the assumption that the poipu area didnt have any restaurants and/or bars. The beach in poipu looks nicer. I guess I am just concerned now the marriott in poipu is basically a FAMILY resort with no restaurant/bar to hang at night. or entertainment. I feel like we will only be at the hotel at night or maybe a few days. Does anyone know?? I realze kauai is not a place for nightlife. We will be exploring all day, driving to dinner and then having a nightcap which i guess we can do right from out room. Also is poipu ir lihue sunneir is Dec??

Another difference between the 2 is that the Poipu location had pretty much a full kitchen, where as the Lihue location had only a microwave %26amp; bar sized fridge. For us it was adaquate as cooking %26amp; cleaning up after is not part of a vacation, but for others it is. For families on a budget it can be a really big thing though, so I thought I should mention it.

If I could pick one, I would definitely select the Marriott Waiohai Beach Club Resort in Poipu. Visited friends at the Poipu location and found it much nicer in so many ways than the Marriott at Kalapaki Beach. Poipu, Koloa and Kalaheo have all the restaurants and bars you will likely need in your 4 days. Likelihood more sun there too, at that time of year.

I have stayed at both in the last year and I think that the Poipu Marriott has TONS more to do on that side of the island. It is prettier, more shopping, more centralized to travel to other parts of the island, and most of all... it doesn%26#39;t have the airplanes flying over it daily!! Trust me, Poipu is the side you want to stay on. Just rent a car and it is a 35 minute drive. We are heading back in November and Poipu is the side all 10 of us are going to! Good luck!